Those close to Tulsa mother, Ruth Lewis, accused of killing her child, said she showed signs she was at her "wits' end" weeks before 7-month-old Zayden Meyers was killed.
Lewis sits behind bars, charged with child abuse murder after little Zayden was pronounced dead just yesterday.
Many of her friends said they realized she was struggling, and asking for help could've saved Zayden's life.
Police said Zayden lost his life at the hands of his mother when, according to her statement to investigators, she "just lost it for a minute"
Investigators said the infant suffered severe brain injuries after he was shaken, jerked and pushed to the ground.
A friend of Lewis said she showed signs of anxiety and frustration for the past couple of months.
Other friends said Lewis constantly begged for some relief from her children. They said she loved her son, but wasn't able to handle the stress of motherhood, and now she's accused in little Zayden's death.
Experts said women experience the trials of motherhood in different ways, and trying to do it alone can lead to abuse and neglect.
"If they don't get help, we've seen parents who get so tired that their frustration level really hits a point where they become the kind of parent they don't want to be," Christine Marsh, Director of Child Abuse and Trauma at Family and Children's Services, said.
Mothers who find themselves in situations where they are at their wits end are advised to seek help, and to know that it is OK.
"It's always OK to have the feelings that we have as a parent," Marsh said. "There are many times that we love our children but it doesn't mean that we always like being a parent."
Marsh said there are resources for struggling mothers. All they need to do is reach out.
Though it's too late for baby Zayden, and though his mother's fate is not determined, their story can be a lesson to mothers struggling with their children.
A public memorial for Zayden will be held Tuesday at La Fortune park at 6 o'clock.
Those wishing to attend are asked to bring white balloons and blue ribbons, which symbolize Zayden's purity and child abuse awareness.
